Nut-tapping machine



S. B. CLAY. NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN Hun AFR. 19. .920. Patented Marl 28,

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NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICAT-ION FILED APR, I9, |920. Mar. 28,

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S. B. CLAY. NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APH. I9, |920. L41 0,997 Patented Mar. 28,; 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- z5 W jv 5 4f I f7 f SAMUEL B. CLAY, OF ST. LOUS, MISSURIASSIGNOR OFIONE-HALE TOEDVTARD B,

Y FISH, 0F WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI.

NUT-Tarrina Maonmn.

Application filed apra ia,

To all 'whom t Imay foncer-a.'

Be it known that l, SAMUEL B. CLAY, a citizen of the United States7 residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Yat-Fap-r ping Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to nut tapping machines, andhas for one ot its objects to provide an attachment tor nut tapping machines that will automatically raise the spindle of the machine which carries the tap at the completion ot the operation oi? threading a nut blank.

Another object is to provide a nut tapping' machine that will automatically tap or thread anumber of nut blanks and then cease operating. Other objects and `desirable features ol my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l ot' the drawings is a side elevational view of an attachment for nut tapping machines embodying my invention and so constructed that it will automatically raise the spindle of the machine at the completion of the threading` operation.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical section, ot the mechanism shown in Figure l.

Figure is a side elevational view ot a mechanism embodying my invention and .so constructedthat it will automatically1 tap or thread a number et nut blanks and then cease operating.

Figure l .is a iront elevational view ol' the mechanism shown in Figure 3 ;v` and Figure is a vertical sectional view ot a `nut tapping machine equipped with a mech- 1 anism ot the kind illustrated in Figures and el. n i

Referring to Figures l and 2 of the draw-` ings which illustrate one form ot'y my invention, A designates the vertical spindle oit an ordinary nut tapping machine that is provided with a tap (not shown) which cuts screw threads in a nut blank' ar ranged on a' suitable support beneath the tap on the spindle A when said spindle moves downwardly,A the spindle being rotated by any suitable means, such, for example, as `a belt l that passes over a pulley Q on the spindle) as shown in Figure 5, i

Specification of Letters Patent. fanghi-@(1 )i313 28, 1922.

1920. Serial N0. 375,075.

The ordinary nut tapping machine comprises a toot treadle which thel operator in charge ot the machine depresses so as to raise the spindle el the machine preparatory to Vpositioning` the nut blank, the op-l erator releasing' said treadle after thenutr blank has been positioned so as to permit the spindle to move downwardly under its own weight to feed the tap through the nut blank. operate; they are comparatively slow in operation, due to the tact that the spindle is moved upwardly manually, and unless the operator uses care in releasing the toot trea die, injury to the operators hands is liable to occur. i

-My invention7 briefly statechconsists ol' a nut tapping machine equipped with a cylinder B provided with a piston C that is operatively connected with the spindle ai of the machine and means for causing the piston C of said cylinder to move automatically ina direction to raise the spindle A of the machine upon the completion of the operation of tapping or threading a nut blank. ln the form of my invention illustrated in Figures l and 2, a'three-way valve D-is provided for admitting anoperating medium, which. may consist of compressed air,

to the lower end of the cylinder 13 so as to raise the spindle A and for exhausting said operating medium 'from said cylinder so as to permit the spindle A to move downwardly by gravity. The cylinder B is ar- Such machines are tiresome to'` ranged vertically or in an upright position l on the supporting structure 3 and the rod 4: oli the piston C is provided at its lower end with a swivel collar 5 that is securely connected to the spindle A ot the machine by a set screw G or other Suitable device, as shown in Figure 2, ythus ,permitting the spindle to rotate relatively to the piston rod el whichraises the spindle. rl'he valve D that governs the admission and exhaust ol the operating medium to `and from the cylinder B is provided with a stem 7 i equipped with a lever or arm 8, and a spring 9 is connected to said arm S so as to kmove the valve D Iintosuch a position that the operating medium will be supplied to the cylinder B, thus causing the piston C and spindle Ato move upwardly. rllhefvalve D is moved in the opposite direction so as Ato cut off the supply of the operating melever 16 that trips'the lockingdevice l1 is to `the cylinder B.

Q f A 1,410,997

raised or in the position it occupies When the valve D is'open or adjusted so that d1- rect communication is vestablished between the source ot supply of the operating medium and the cylinder B.

After the voperator has positioned a nut Ablank in operative position beneath the tap on the spindle he pulls the rod downwardly so as to turn the valve D into such a position that thev supply ot the operating medium to the cylinder B is cut ott and an exhaust port in said falve isopened through which the operating mediuinpreviously sup- Yplied to the` cylinder B can escape, the valve being` heldinthis position by a loc-lering de` vice. Vpreferably formed hva leafspring 11 Whose lower end engages a notch 12tormed` in theperipherv of a disk 13 secured tothe valve lever 8. 'The spindle A and the piston in the j Acylinder B will Vnow move downu Wardly under their own Weight, and 'thus feed the tap ontlie spindle through thenut blanlr. At the completion ot the threading;r or tapping operation a tripping device d1sengages the locking' device 11 from thedisk` 13 on thevalvelever, and thus permits the spring- 9v to open the valvegD, or, in other Words.v turn said valve into such Va position that the operating medium will be admitted` The spindle 'A will then move upwardlyY and remain in its elevated position until the valve D is again closed or turned into a vposition to exhaust the operating'v medium `from the cylinder B. Various kindsot tripping' devices may be used .tor automaticallj,T releasing' .the valve lever from the locking device'll,` but I prefer to use a trippingi devicellV carried by a partY that moves verticallyv with the spindle A andarranged so4 that the lovver end of said device 14t- Willzengage a lever 16 at the com` pletion ol the threading operation and cause said lever to disengage the lockingI device 1l 'from the notch inthe peripherjvr Voi" the dislcjll ou the valve lever. The part 15 that carries the tripping device l-l 1s guided by a ,verti'cally-disposed guideivay 17, and the pivotallv mounted on saidguideway and providedat its free endY with a link or operatingrod 18 .which the operator can pull downvvardlgY inthe event that he desires to raiserthe spindle or reverse 'the direction ot movement :of the spindle Yprior 4to the completion of the nut threading operation.V

lThe mechanism shown-in Figures Band 4 Yembodies the same general -characteristics of the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and `2 i but itis so constructed that the spindle Aol' the machine will move upwardl'v and 'doivin ward'l'j,v ra vnumber-ot tunes and then cease Acally-disposed actuatea controlling` device ateach Vcycle of themachine.V Said mechanism -comprises a 7o cylinder B equipped with a piston C Whosel rode is provided with a swiveled collar 5 -that is connected to the spindle A of the n1achine, but instead of using a threeAva-y valve to control the admission and exhaust of the V operating medium to and from the operating cylinder B, I use an ordinary D -sliaped slide valve E that is moved automaticallyin one direction at the completion of1 the threading Y operatiomrso as to admit the voperatingm'e- 80 dilunto the cylinder B and ismovedauto-V matically in the opposite direction at `the end of the upward stroke ot tliespin'dle A, so -as to permit the operatingsmed-ium'to A exhaust ,tromfthe cylinder? thus permitting` the spindle A to move downwardly bygrav- -Y ity.V The actuating mechanisinfor `the-,valve E comprises a lever 2O pivotally connected atY 2l to astationary supporting'plate 22 and pivotally connected `intermediate its 90. ends tothe stem 23 oit the valve Al, ya de pending rod 9A: on the valvelever 2O provided with a stop-.25 that is engaged by a lus 26 which moves. verticallyv Zwith the spindle A., and toothed wheel F that moves vertically7 with the spindle and which is so arranged that jit engages the' valve lever 2O said manuallyfoperable means consisting` ot a pivotally mounted lever `271011 thestationary ksuppoitingfr plate @f7/that is providedV with .an operating rod 28 vand which is so arranged thatt-he free'end of said'ileve'r 27 100 willengage the free endet the valve lever 20 and move said valve vlever ivhcn the 'operating;l rod 28 is pulleddownwardly;V i

The toothedV Wheel'lT is rotatably mounted between a pair ot' uprights E29 carried b v a 115 horizontally-disposed bar or member 30 Whose rear end portion is guided in a vertiguide 31' which projects downwardly from the supportingstructure 3. that carries the cylinder VB said member 120 `30 being connected to the piston rod/4. in such a manner that it will move vertically with said rod and with the spindle A. Theivheel F is provided Witlia plurality oit teeth 32.

the number owvhich will var)T according` to' 125 the number ot automatic ope-rations itis de-V siredrto have thema'chinemake. YVFor example, it'it is desired ,to have the machineinaltel ten operationsV andv then Ycome to v`rest automatically, the Wheel F YWill be proviiledivfithY13` nine teeth and a blank space arranged between the first tooth and the last tooth on the periphery of the wheel. The function of the teeth 32 is to move the valve lever 2O up waidly at the completion of each upward stroke of the spindle A, so as to exhaust the operating medium from the cylinder B, and thus permit the spindle A to move downwardly by gravity, and in order that the inachine will make a definite number of complete operations and then `come to rest automatically, means is provided for turning the wheel E one step forwardly at each cycle ofV the spindle, so as to bring the blank space on said wheel into such a position with relation to the valve lever 20 that said lever will not be moved upwardly or in a direction to en haust the operating medium from the cylinder at the completion of the last upward stroke of Athe spindle A, lVhile various means can be used for turning the wheel E, I prefer to provide the wheel with laterallyprojecting pins 33 arranged so that one of said pins will engage a pivotally-mounted dog 34 carried by a bracket on the stationary supporting plate 22 each time the spindle A moves downwardly, said dog causing the wheel F to rotate one step forwardly. The dog 34 is pivotally mounted on its support ing structure and is acted upon by a spring 35 Shown in Figure 3 that normally holds the lower end of said dog in the path of vertical movement of one of the pins 33 on the wheel F. When the spindle A moves up wardly at the completion of the threading or tapping operatiointhe pin 33 on the wheel F which is then in vertical alignment with the dog 34 will strike against the curved lower end of said dog and swing said dog on its pivot sufliciently to permit the wheel F to move upwardly far enough to canse one of the teeth 3:2 on said wheel to engage a forwardly-projecting lugv 3G on the valve lever 20 and move said valve lever upwardly. Thereafter, the spindle A moves downwardly, and ,during the downward movement of said spindle the pin 33 on the lwheel F, which, on the priornpward stroke of said spindle engaged the dog 3ft, will drop into the notch 37 in the lower end portion of the dog, thereby momentarily holding the wheel F and causing it to rotate one step forwardly as the spindle A continues to move downwardly. Retrograde movement of the wheel F is prevented by means of a springpressed pawl 38 carried by the uprights 29 that co-operates with the laterally4 projecting pins on said wheel. YVhen the wheel F reaches such a position that the blank space on the periphery of same is brought into operative relationship with the forwardly-projecting lug 36 on the valve lever 20, the machine will cease operating at the end of the upward stroke of the spindle A.

The nut blanks can be fed either manually or automatically into position to be engaged by the tap 39 on the spindle A. In Figure 5 `of the drawings l have shown a machine equipped with an inclined trough or feedin device 40. down which the nut blanks are fed to a holder'al arranged in alignment with the tap on the spindle fi'of the machine. To start the machine in operation the operator pulls downwardly on the rod 28 on the lever 27, thereby causing the valve lever 2O to be moved upwardly or in such a direction that the operating medium is eX- hausted from the cylinder B. The piston C in said cylinder and the spindle A to which said piston is connected move downwardly by gravity, thus causing the tap 39 to befed through the nut blank. At the completion of the threading operation the lug 26 through which the depending rod 24 on the valve lever passes strikes against the adjust.- ableistop Q5 on the lower end of said rod 24, thereby causing the valve lever 2O to be moved downwardly so as to open the valve E and admit the operating medium to the cylinder B. The spindle Aand the piston C will immediately move upwardly under the influence ofthe pressure in the cylinder B, and when the spindle A nears the end of its upward stroke one of the teeth on the wheel' F will strike against the forwardly-projecting lug 36 on the valve lever 2O and move said lever upwardly, thus automatically exhausting 4the operating niedium from the cylinder and starting the spindle A on its downward stroke. Oneach downward stroke of the spindle A the wheel F is turned one step forwardly and when the blank space on the periphery of said wheel Lcomes into operative relationship with 105 the lug 36 on the valve lever the machine will cease operating.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: f y

l, A nut tapping machine provided with a reciprocating spindle adaptedto have a tap connected to same, a cylinder provided with a piston that is operatively connected with said spindle, a valve for controlling the `M5' supplyr of an operating medium yto said cylinder, and a means operated by the movement of the spindle for automatically changing the condition of said. valve at lthev com-` pletion of the tapping operation so as to 12o cause said spindle to restore the tap to its `inoperative position.

2. In a machine of the general kind described, a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided with a piston operatively connectedwith said, spindle, a valve forgoverny ing the admission and exhaust of an operating medium to and from said cylinder, automaticfmeans' for moving said valve when the spindle reaches the end .of its k ifo stroke inone direction so asto restore said spindle to its starting position, and 'automatic means for moving said valve when the spindle reaches its starting position, for thefp'urpose described. J

3. A nut tapping machine Vprovided With a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided with a piston for moving said spindle in one direction, a valve for governing the admission and exhaust of an operating medium to and 'from said cylinderl so as to raise the spindle and thereafter permit the spindle to moveI downwardly by gravity, an automatic controlling mechanism for said valve constructed so that the spindle will Vmake a number' Aof complete cycles and then come t rest in v'its elevated position. Y

'ne of the general character 4. In amach referred to, a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided With a piston operatively connected with said spindle, a valve for governing the admission and exhaust oi an operating medium toV and from said cylinder, and a controlling mechanism for said valve constructed in such a manner that the valverrwill open and close a definite numberof times and then-come to rest When the spindle is in an inoperative position.

5. In a Y'machine of the general character "described` a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided with a piston operatively connected Vwith vsaid spindle, a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust-oi an operating medium to andironi said cylinder,

ali-automatic operating mechanism for openi ing and closing said valve, and means operated by the movement ot the spindle for causing said valveolierati-ng mechanism to open'and close the valve a deiinite number oi'' Vtimes Yand then come to rest VWith-the valve injsuch a condition that the spindle will beinaintained in an inoperative condition. 1 Y r Y 6. In a machine oi the general character described, a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder .provided-with a piston` operatively connected tvith said spindle, a Vvalve ifo'r controlling-the supply an 'operating medium to said cylinder, means for' automaticallyv r 'opening' said valve when the spindle reaches the end Voi" its stroke in one direction, and means forautoinatically closing the valve when* the spindle-reaches the 4end of its" stroke in the opposite direction.

7. In a. machineof the general character describech-a reciprocating` spindle, a cylinder provided With a piston operatively connected with said spindle, a valveV for controlling the supply oftan operating medium to said cylinder,` means vfor automatically opening said valve when the spindle reaches the end of its stroke in one direction, means for automatically closing the valve When the spindle reaches 'the end of its stroke in the opposite direction,'and means that co-operv matically come to rest.

der provided with a piston for actuating' said spindle, a valve for controlling the supply of an operating medium to said cylinder, an automatic actuating mechanism' for said valve arranged so that the spindle will makev a. number of complete cycles and then automatically cometo rest, and a manuallyoperable means ifor actuating said valve so as to set the spindle in operation.

9. ri machine of the general character described, coniprising a reciprocating spindle,

la cylinder provided With a piston operatively connected With said spindle, a valve for Ooverninfr the adinissionaiid exhaust ot .an Operatingniediuni to and from said cyl-- inder, ineansoperated by the movement oi the spindle in onediiection for automatically opening' said valve as to admit the operating medium to thecylinder, means opvcratedjby the movement of the spindle in the opposite direction for automatically closing said valve so asl to permit the operating medium to exhaust trom the cylinder, and an independent manually-operable means l:for

closing the valve. Y

l0. In a machine ot the general type refoi-red to, a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided with a pist-on Voperatively coiinec red ivith saidY spindle,;a valve tor controlling an operating medium used to actuatesaid piston,V means for changing the position of said valve when the spindle reaches the end ,oi' its stroke in one direction, an adjustable device for restoring said valve When the spindle reaches the end of its stroke iii the opposite directionv` and means for automatically changing the condition of said adjustable device sothat the Vspindle will make a number of complete cyc es and then auto- A machine ofthe general character referred to, comprising a reciprocating` spindie. a cylinder provided with a piston operatively connected With said spindle., an automatic mechanism vfor opening and closing said valve comprising an adjustable element that moves the valve in one direction at each cmiiplete cycle of the spindle, and meansV i'or moving said adjustable element one step forwardly at each cycle ot the spindle duringY a certain denite number or strokes of the spindle. 1 Y

l2.V In a machine of the genera-l character described, a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided with a'piston operatively connected with saidV cylinder, a controlling valve for the operating medium used to actuate the piston in said cylinder, a toothed element arranged to move with -the'spindle and provided with a plurality of teeth and a blank space7 the teeth on said element being used to operate the controlling valve intermit tently, and means for turning said element one step forwardly at each complete cycle of the spindle so as to bring;- the blank space on said element into an operative position aiter the spindle has made a number of complete cycles. n

18. In a machine of the general character described7 a reciprocating spindle, a cylin derprovided with a piston operatively connected With said spindle, a controlling valve for the operating medium used to actuatc said piston, atoothed Wheel combined with said spindle in such a manner that one tooth on said Wheel engages said controlling lever and moves it each time the spindle nears the end of its stroke in one directionj and means for turning said Wheel each time the spindle moves in the opposite direction during a certain definite number ol' cycles ofthe spindle.

1-1. In a machine of the general. character described, a reciprocating spindle, a cylinder provided with a piston operatively connected with said spindle, a controlling valve for the operating medium used to actuate the piston, a toothed Wheel combined With the spindle and arranged so that one of the teeth thereon engages an arm on said controlling valve and moves it When the spindle reaches the end of its stroke in one direction, and a' pivotally mounted dog that co-operates with pins on said Wheel to automatically turn said wheel one step forwardly at each stroke oi' the spindle during a delinite'number oi' cycles of the spindle.`

l5. A nut tapping machine provided With a reciprocating spindle7 a cylinder'v arranged above the spindle and provided with a piston that is operatively connected With the spindle, a controlling valve for the operating,v medium used to actuate the piston, a lever for moving said valve, a link depending from said lever and adapted to be moved during the downward stroke of the spindle so as to open said valve, a toothed wheel combined with said spindle for moving the lever to close said valve when the spindle reaches the end of its upward stroke, and a dog arranged in the path of travel of said Wheel and co-operating with devices on said wheel to turn it intermittently during a definite number of strokes of the spindle.

SAMUEL B. CLAY. 

